As part of We Own The Laughs.com’s Comedian of the Day, have a few laughs and get to know comedian Aidan McCluskey. The Galesville, Wisconsin native shares some of his favorite moments in stand-up comedy and explains how he always owns the laughs.
Name: Aidan McCluskey
Hometown: Galesville, Wisconsin
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/Snapchat/Tik-Tok: @aidsman109
Years in Comedy: 4
Haven’t we seen you somewhere before: The Adam Friedland Show, Son of a Boy Dad, & The Yak.
Comedic Influences: Doug Stanhope, Larry “Uncle Lar” Reeb, Joey Diaz, & John Russel
Favorite Comedy Album: Marc Maron “Final Engagement”
Favorite Comedy Special: Doug Stanhope “Beer Hall Putsch”
Favorite Comedy Movie: Airplane
Favorite Comedy TV Show: Intervention
Favorite Comedic Character: Tim Hiedecker (On Cinema At The Cinema)
Favorite City to Perform In: Minneapolis, or anywhere in the south.
Favorite Topics to Joke About: Stuff that generally makes people sad.
Favorite Type of Audience for a Comedy Show: An ideal audience for me is white trash townies. But not the ones who are content with living there, the ones who want to leave and don’t know how to get out.
Favorite Comedy Club: Acme Comedy Co. in Minneapolis or Zanies Nashville.
How did you discover your passion for comedy:
I remember watching Comedy Central presents in the early to mid 2010s and thinking “I could do that.”
What do you remember most about your first time performing stand-up comedy:
I remember how bright the lights were. I forgot all of my material but the other comics (Lindsey Hensel, Tim Flanagan) were nicer than they needed to be to me and told me to come back. I went home to tell my girlfriend at the time, she knocked me in the face for lying about where I was going to be. (Told her I was going to be getting high with my buddy Jacob.)
How would you describe your comedic style:
A lot of stories about growing up in Wisconsin, and some opinions that would be frowned upon in any other context other than comedy.
Describe your process for comedic writing:
I just think about something I’ve seen or remember a story, think about it and say it on stage. Then I try to remember what I said, and build off that. I’ve tried to sit down and write out material and it just ends up becoming who gets my stuff when I die.
Describe the comedy scene in your area:
There is plenty of good stage time in Minneapolis. The comedy scene in here is very talented, too. It pushes you to try a lot harder.
How do you judge success in the world of comedy:
My idea of success is to be able to live anywhere I want, regardless if there’s access to stage time. (Preferably there’s not.)
Who are some of your comedic peers that you enjoy watching perform or inspire you personally and professionally:
I like watching Max Chapman, Elliott McVey, Connor Hangsleben, Alex Avery and Mike Lester. The comic who inspired me the most was John Russel. He ran the goonies open mic in Rochester when I was first starting in comedy. I’d show up an hour early just to talk to him. John was and is the comic I want to be today. He really gave me solid advice both in comedy and in life. He was the first comic to explain what comedy really was, without the frills and bullshit. He prepared me for how difficult comedy was going to be for someone doing it where I was. I also respect and owe a lot to Nick Mullen. He was the first comic to take me out on the road, honestly before I was probably ready, but he really validated me and what I was doing. He’s also someone who’s so effortlessly funny in conversation and on stage.
Lastly, I owe a lot of thanks to Louis Lee- the owner of acme. He hired me at his club when I was 23, I had absolutely nothing at the time. I had just quit drinking and I was completely directionless- he gave me a goal and hope. He’s been so impactful in my comedy and personal life. His advice has guided me through a lot of difficult and confusing times in my life. I hope he knows how much he means to me.
What’s been your most memorable moment in comedy:
Probably the time I did a show at a winery in Kalamazoo, MI, with Connor Hangsleben. The night before we did a show for two dudes- bumpy and Vito. The winery show was somehow worse. We ended up having to sleep on his buddy’s property because every hotel in town was completely booked because “the biggest car show in Michigan” happened to be going on at the same time. (I slept in my car, Connor slept in an outdoor sunroom.)
What have you learned most from your failures in comedy:
It’s mostly going to be failure. There’s a lot of low lows, and some high highs that keep you going. Resilience and delusion become your best friend.
How do people react toward you when they realize that you can make people laugh:
It’s honestly a completely useless skill. I think it’s maybe helped interpersonally just because humor is so disarming. I was living out of my car for a while and I think my sense of humor was able to get me on some couches for a night. That’s about it.
Describe building a career in stand-up comedy:
There’s really no formula like there was prior to social media. In Minnesota when I first started the old comics said you needed a clean five for late night because that’s what built their careers. Nowadays there’s so many different avenues to “making it.” It’s really just about the resilience and delusion.
If you could change one thing in the world of comedy, what would it be:
Reels and social media. It’s so oversaturated now because everyone thinks that’s the way to make it. I wish it were like the old comics said it would be. Now talking about the business of comedy is just discussing “the algorithm”. It’s just become the Chinese social credit for comedy, except instead of the drownings and camps, you just get overlooked for a show in Bushwick. The craziest thing is followers go to some peoples’ head. Like the person who comments “plz com to liberia” under every one of your reels matters in the grand scheme of your career.
Best advice you’ve ever received from a comedian:
“Just keep showing up”
If you were releasing a comedy special this week, what would it be called:
“Thanks for Listening”
Funniest encounter you’ve ever had with a celebrity:
The first time I met Ron White I offered him a zyn (he’d never had one before) he took it, popped it in lit a cigar and shortly after said, “shit… I probably don’t need this.” And pulled off his nicotine patch.
Weirdest place you’ve ever performed any form of comedy:
An AA biker rally at 2pm. I stood in front of a trailer in the middle of July and did 25. (the jazz band was so old they didn’t wanna get off the trailer once they got on it.)
An Aidan McCluskey Fun Fact:
I currently live illegally in a closet. Things are going as well as they could be.
Where would you like your laughs to take you:
I’m willing to go anywhere anytime. I don’t really have a plan and to be honest I didn’t think I’d make it as far as I have.
What would you tell a potential comedian if they ask you how they can own the laughs:
Just be yourself and trust yourself. As gay as it sounds, authenticity is the most important aspect of performing.
What are your thoughts on the future of comedy:
It’s completely oversaturated right now, like the old comics talked about the comedy “boom” it’s not gonna last forever. I’d be surprised if this many people give a shit about comedy in 5 years like they do now.
If you could write an episode for ONE classic TV sitcom, which show would it be:
Seinfeld but Newman has a gun.
If you could choose ONE comedy club and THREE comedians to perform with on your perfect comedy show, how would it go:
Well, I heard this did happen- it was Doug Stanhope and Mitch Hedberg co-headlining at Acme. I really would’ve just liked to be a fly on the wall for that whole show.
What’s next for you:
I’m not sure. I’m going wherever comedy takes me. Things are going as well as they can be right now and I’m hoping I can just maintain that.
Why should a person always laugh at life:
We should just laugh at the stuff that scares us because the end of the road looks the same for all of us.
Follow Aidan McCluskey’s comedic journey on these social media websites:
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/Snapchat/Tik-Tok: Aidan McCluskey
Youtube: Aidan McCluskey
Personal Website: Aidan McCluskey
